My Magical & Magnificent Mini-Vacation
With travel outside Japan being difficult, few options that didn’t involve a great deal of fuss AND muss, and the knowledge that travel is the thing that makes me feel alive, this girl needed some travel ASAP. I decided to do what I had sworn I was going to do when I first got to Okinawa 16 years ago – start discovering more of the Ryuku island chain. Apparently there are more than 150 islands in the Okinawa prefecture so I’m way behind the power curve on this one (I’ve been to fewer than 10 so far). I realized I wanted, no actually make that NEEDED, to start island hopping immediately to begin crossing this mission off my bucket list. The bonus to doing this now, as opposed to waiting another 16 years, is that while Japan is mostly still closed to foreigners, I’m a foreigner on the inside so I can do all the things in this country with minimal crowds (a VERY rare thing). One of the places I’d been hearing about since the beginning of my stay in Okinawa was Miyako island, one of the Okinawa islands, and part of Miyakojima which includes 6 islands.
Miyako island is the largest of these islands at 61.34 square miles. If you could run a 7 minute mile you could get from one side of the island to the other in 42 minutes… If you can’t run a 7 minute mile, or want to save your energy for other things, I suggest renting a car. Car rental is very affordable here and less sweat inducing than jogging in the summer heat, though if you don’t reserve in advance you may want to bring those running shoes because they sometimes do run out of rentals. When I went in the beginning of June (2022) a small rental car was only about $100 for 3 days. Miyako is surrounded by the East China Sea and has a population of about 46,000. A plus to visiting Miyako from Okinawa mainland is that the plane ride is only 50 minutes and when I booked it, it cost less than $150 for a round trip ticket.
The Miyako airport is tiny, which makes it easy to find your baggage carousel (there’s one) and most of the rental car people stand right outside the baggage area so they are easy to spot when you come out. Mine were NOT standing outside but when I called they directed me to the shuttle stop just outside the front doors of the airport. Once I was in my rental car I set out for the Miyakojima Tokyu Hotel & Resorts (the cost for 3 nights over the weekend at this 4 star luxury resort was only about $400 because of the amazing yen rate).
I was not disappointed by this place and it lived up to the glowing reviews it got online. I got there very early (10 am) and because it was my birthday and I had joined their membership club (note: ALWAYS join the hotel membership clubs for the extra perks) they not only let me check in early but also upgraded my room!
The rooms face the East China Sea and my room was beautiful with two full size beds and a lounge area. There was a tea and coffee station with an electric kettle and a Keurig type coffeemaker, a fridge, a decent closet with a safe, drawers for clothes, hotel pajamas (very cute and comfy white cotton), a sink with a view of the room and the ocean (can be closed with a sliding shutter for privacy if you don’t want your partner watching you brush your teeth), a big bathtub, and all the toiletries you might need to include a rather nice mini hair brush and bright red hibiscus bath salts (which made the bath look like a crime scene instead of a chill relaxation zone).
The best part was the balcony which faced the ocean and the pool. I could sit and watch the sunset from my room if I was feeling lazy, but there were so many other stunning locations to watch the sunset too!
My first mission was to get a lay of the land and check out the famous beach that butted right up to the hotel property. The pool was lovely but when the water in the ocean is such a gorgeous shade of turquoise it’s hard to imagine settling for a dip in the pool.
PICS OF POOL
The grounds were beautifully manicured and the gorgeous trees and flowers made me feel like I was in a tropical paradise (ummm maybe because I was!). There were 5 restaurants on the property, some of which required reservations. One of the restaurants specialized in sushi and another teppanyaki. There was a soothing spa where I received an amazing 90 minute massage before bed that helped me sleep more soundly than I’ve slept in years. The hotel has a little gift shop, with beach gear, clothes, trinkets, postcards, snacks, and even some local crafts (Okinawa blown glass, bingata style purses, etc.). There are 2 outdoor tennis courts, a covered terrace to lounge about or just generally chill in, water features, miniature golf, and free parking and free wifi.
The first beach on my list was the beach behind the hotel, rated as one of the top beaches in Miyako, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Yonaha Beach features a long stretch of white sand and views of a long bridge leading to Kurima island across the water. The hotel’s umbrellas and chairs were surprisingly underwhelming, more like the cheap metal and woven nylon folding beach loungers from when I was a kid (in the 80’s, if you must know) and felt more 2 star than 4 star… but honestly who cares when you are on such a stunning beach?
I walked down the beach towards the bridge and found several companies renting water toys for various fun activities (jet skis, banana boats, etc.). There was a volleyball tournament going on when I was there with multiple matches going on at once and some people making some impressive sand sculptures. The water was just the right temperature, cool enough to be refreshing and to keep you wanting to float there all day.
I had beaches to discover and adventures to go on so I cut my floating short and checked Yonaha off my list.
I hopped in my car and headed across the Kurima bridge to the island across the way (yep, you guessed it Kurima island).
My first stop was the Ryuuguujo Observation Deck, where a mermaid greeted me with lovely views of the sparkling tropical sea and bridge stretching from one island to the next. She wanted to tell me a secret but I don’t speak mermaid and my translator app didn’t either.
As I was searching for the next beach on the nearby island of Irabu, I found another observation deck and being a keen observer, I stopped to check out the view from the architecturally unique Makiyama Observatory where I took in the lush tropical jungle below, rocks blanketed by green, and the beautiful sea below.
All that driving and exploring was kicking up my appetite and one of the places that had both great reviews and healthy food was the Dining Café & Bar Coral Island Miyakojima.
I’ve been eating healthier and wanted some fuel that would give me energy for my beach adventures and not bog me down and force me into nap mode (that means no French toast for me today).
The views from this restaurant were magnificent and there was a large outdoor deck where I could sit and relax while I enjoyed a simply prepared Miyako beef steak (apparently it is incredibly rare and is a must try) with roasted vegetables, wasabi sauce, toasted garlic chips, sea salt, and a small shot glass filled with pickled veggies for 6000 yen. I gave it 2 thumbs up and felt healthy and happily satiated.
Next beach stop was Toguchi no hama which was beautiful but maybe because it was on the verge of pouring down rain I didn’t find as enchanting as some of the other beaches. There was an arch of white sand beach flanked by palm trees and azure water, as well as rocky outcroppings along the shore on the side opposite the beach. Showers and bathrooms are available and there’s a little store with limited hours at the entrance to the beach.
It began raining and I made my way back to get some solid sleep and start off early for the next day’s adventures.
Top of my list for the next day was Sunayama Beach, home of the famous rock arch.
I pulled into a large parking lot, with some shady areas, vending machines, bathrooms, and a map of the area and trekked over a sandy pathway, through tropical bushes and plants, to a stunning view of my now favorite beach.
White sand, flanked by a tall limestone rock face on one side and a rock arch with a view of the sea on the other.
Between the two was the most stunning blue water. It was so inviting I dove right in and floated and floated until the tips of my fingers wrinkled and my bliss meter was maxed out.
The rock arch apparently has seen better days and was roped off and had ropes wrapped around it to keep it from collapsing.
After my float I begrudgingly packed my towel up and set off for the next beach, because despite my FOMO, I knew that there was not going to be a better beach than this. The beach afficionado in me knew this, but the adventurer in me knew it wouldn’t hurt to check the other beaches, just in case.
My belly was starting to demand fuel so I decided to make a stop to fuel up where I could also enjoy stunning views of the ocean. I headed north to Cape Nishihennazaki where just past 2 giant wind turbines, I found the most magical school bus I’ve ever seen… Harry’s Shrimp Truck is actually a school bus converted into a kitchen and serves garlic shrimp and rice that is 5/5 oishi (that’s tasty to all you non-Japanese speakers).
They have a covered seating area and a rooftop seating area and a nearby restroom and of course, the ever present Japanese vending machines. After devouring 2 plates of shrimp (hey I didn’t get the rice so I deserved to helpings of the shrimp – why you gotta be so judgy???) I wandered around the walkway along the edge of the ocean, climbed the observation deck and was mesmerized and hypnotized by the waves crashing against the rocks.
Happily this was not the kind of hypnosis that caused me to cluck like a chicken and instead was the sort that calmed my mind and soothed my soul.
Next stop Ikema island, where I found a beach marked by a yellow buoy painted with kanji and tiny buoys hanging from this one painted like Japanese sumo heads.
This beach was beautiful and I had it all to myself. In this day and age this is such a rarity that it completely freaked me out. Wondering what was wrong with this beach, instead of reveling in the solitude and the private beach vibe, I became weirdly paranoid and nervous. Were there sharks here and that’s why no one was here? Was this the serial killer beach? Was it haunted by ghosts? Sigh. Note to self. ENJOY THE RARE GIFT of a deserted beach. Floated for 5 minutes and then bailed. Yep, silly move but sometimes, luckily very rarely, solo travel can bring on a bit of anxiety…
Shaking off the haunted beach vibes, I headed to Funakusu Beach a white sand beach that gently curved between green topped boulders. Despite a junky looking entrance with sandbags piled along a cement wall, the beach was straight out of a travel brochure, beckoning to SUP lovers, snorkelers, sunbathers, and swimmers.
Prior to heading back over the Ikema Ohashi Bridge I pulled over at a little tourist stop where you can park, grab a bite, a drink, or some souvenirs, just prior to the crossing to get some pictures and an ice cold bottle of water. A pink structure in the parking lot is the perfect vantage to snap some photos of the bridge (just under a mile long) connecting Miyako and Ikema islands.
My final stop for this trip was Imugya Marine Garden with a safe little cove to snorkel (sadly I didn’t bring my snorkeling gear on this trip but will for certain bring it next time) and an easy walking path along and above the sea.
Easily visible under the aquamarine water on the far side of the path were spectacular rock and coral formations.
The Marine garden included bridges, stairs, a scenic overlook, stone paths, covered rest areas, and a grumpy looking Miyako cow sculpture.
On my way back to the hotel I passed one of the peculiar life sized statues I’d been driving by throughout my entire stay and decided it was time to pull over and capture this oddity on film. Standing on the corner of busy intersections in Miyako you will often see a very pale man with a white helmet, wearing a blue Michael Jackson style jacket, blue pants, white spats, white gloves, and a white belt standing on a yellow cement block with his hands by his side.
This is the famed Mamoru-kun police mascot on Miyakojima. He is there to inspire (or scare) you into obeying the traffic laws and was first put up in 1991.
There are 20 of these vaguely creepy statues, 17 who live on miyakojima. Each time I spotted a statue my foot eased up on the accelerator and my heart sped up a bit so I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of this strange traffic cop sculpture.
There is, of course, Mamoru-kun merchandise sold across the island (especially at the airport) with a variety of products to include cookies, liquor, keychains, and of course a guidebook to help you locate all of the statues.
Miyako island far exceeded my expectations (and trust me I’m not a low expectations kind of girl) and I will absolutely return.
The beauty of this spot is that you can stay in luxury at a resort or on the cheap in a condo and either way you have access to all the stunning beaches. Thus far it is my favorite of the Ryuku island but I still have more to explore and will keep you posted.
Café Strada is a cafe with a fresh casually elegant feel to it, with a few tables outside on the sidewalk and 14 or so tables inside. They proudly proclaim (in their menu, not shouting it through a megaphone as you walk in) that they “use organic spices, grains & flours and support local produce where we can.” Both times I went there were no crowds but a few people scattered about. The floors are polished concrete and one wall is covered with large lush palm leaves and the other is a solid steel blue making you feel like you are sitting between the jungle and the ocean (without that pesky humidity). The cafe has high ceilings with a bustling coffee counter up front where you can order from the window facing the sidewalk or come inside, and pull up a seat. 
Their beverages are made with serious love (not puppy love – it’s the real deal baby!) and they have an assortment of unique teas as well as coffees. They proudly proclaim that they use Sipping Duck coffee (a local coffee roastery and a proud silver medal winner in the Australian International coffee awards) though when I read this all I could think of was an over-caffeinated duck swimming around in frantic circles while sipping a tiny duck sized cup of coffee. Also the duck is drinking a double shot (since the cafe ALWAYS serves a double shot… now if I could just get my bartender to follow this plan). The organic velvet latte sounded unique to say the least. It is made with beet root, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, cayenne, & black pepper.
There is Creme Brûlée Tea which somehow manages to really taste like a creme brûlée but without the richness. Add milk and voila! You are getting a creme brûlée without the added calories. It was simple, light, and still quite delicious. The perfect tea if you decide you are going for something rich like the crepes. And my advice is… GO FOR THE CREPES!
Then came the difficult decision. I couldn’t decide between the traditional lemon sugar crepe ($7) or the salted caramel crepe ($7.5) and the chef was kind enough not to force me to choose and gave me a side of salted caramel to slather on the crepe at will. She mentioned that she absolutely loves both of these and when I took a bite of each, after breaking down in tears of ecstasy, I suddenly understood. The lemon sugar was a sweet and sour burst of flavor that demanded I eat every last bite. The salted caramel was eyes rolled back in your head good. I can’t even begin to describe how good it was (which sucks since I’m a writer and that’s what I’m supposed to be doing here…). I somehow managed to leave a few bites but this was not an easy feat. 
So generally when I go out to eat I have to leave at least one third of my meal so that I don’t become a round food reviewer (the food would’t be round, I would… though crepes are round, and of course there are cookies and those are generally round. Right. Off track again…). If I had a baseball bat held to my head (they don’t have many guns in Australia) and HAD to choose I would absolutely choose the lemon sugar crepe with salted caramel on the side.
I went back another day because despite my desire to try all the breakfast places I could in Cairns, the draw of these crepes was just too strong to resist. On this visit I had the whipped goat’s cheese crepe with homemade onion jam, cherry tomatoes, cheese, spinach, and roasted almonds ($17.9 AU). It was even better than the first savory crepe I’d had here. It was, as they said in the 50’s, “dreamy”. Yes I’m aware that was a phrase generally used to describe handsome guys but given the choice between the most handsome guy on earth and this crepe, I’d choose the crepe. Now THAT is saying something about the super yum factor of these crepes. 
For dessert I really really really wanted to order that lemon sugar crepe with a side of that golden salted caramel sauce but resisted said urge and decided to try the crumpet ($15 AU). I’ve read Alice in Wonderland and they talk about crumpets and since I’ve never had a crumpet I realized it was high time I tried one. The crumpet came with rhubarb and strawberry compote, lemon ricotta curd, dark chocolate and almond flakes. 
It was very tasty and I’m sure I would have absolutely loved it, if only I’d never tried the lemon sugar caramel crepe. I’m afraid it ruined all other desserts for me from now until the end of time (or at least until I find something equally tasty – which is sort of like the search for the holy grail, time consuming and pretty much impossible).
Café Strada
Waffle On comes VERY highly recommended by reviewers at Trip Advisor and since I own stock in that company I try to heed their advice whenever possible. When I arrived the place was full which isn’t difficult considering there is only 1 table inside and 1 counter for 2 people. Outside there are maybe 5 tables, a couple with 4-5 seats and a few with 2 seats. There are people constantly stopping by to try to get a seat and unless they are masters at musical chairs and have the music timed right they are out of luck and are sent on their way. Those who are truly tenacious and demand their waffle will have to wait patiently on the sidewalk mean mugging the diners until they finally get up and give up their precious chairs. There is no to go ordering so you either sit here to eat or you go home and make your own damn waffles. Trust me your waffles will not hold a candle to these waffles and you will be missing out on one of the great wonders of the world. Yes. They are that good.
Nothing to be ashamed of, just boldly order your dessert on a plate and pretend you are having a healthy breakfast. I do it all the time (if you’ve read my reviews you know this is oh too true). The prices for the sweet side of the menu run from 9.90 AUD for plain (yawn) to 15.90 for “Chronicles of Banan” which is served with Nutella, sliced banana, walnuts, caramel sauce, melted Belgian chocolate, and chocolate ice cream. If that doesn’t make you salivate then how about a Robert Brownie JNR made with a chocolate brownie waffle and served with chocolate AND vanilla ice cream, melted Belgian chocolate and your choice of strawberries, banana or both. There is a Maple Bacon waffle that is made with homemade candied bacon with maple syrup and vanilla ice cream. Gimme S’More is something that sounds heavenly – hand toasted (as opposed to foot toasted?) marshmallows, Belgian chocolate sauce topped crushed chocolate honeycomb with a side of vanilla and strawberry ice cream sandwiches between their delicious chocolate brownie waffle. There is a nod to the artist formerly known as Prince on their menu with a Raspberry Beret (yes there are raspberries in it – you are catching on..). The Cookie Monster is a decadent monstrosity which has brownie waffles filled with whipped cream, crushed Oreos, and served with both vanilla and chocolate ice cream, finished with melted white chocolate and chocolate Belgian sauce. 
Another waffle that had my stomach rumbling with desire was the Black Forest – chocolate brownie waffle with fresh raspberries and blueberries, served with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, dark cherry purée, topped with white and milk Belgian chocolate.
Café Seaside Hanon is one of my very favorite breakfast places in Okinawa and of course because it is on my list, you know that means it is dog friendly as well. If you have a big dog make sure you are capable of lifting him/her because in order to get to the dog friendly area you must carry your fuzzy friend through the restaurant. Also if your dog is a non-stop yapper that is a deal breaker (or a meal breaker…) and is about the last thing those who are drinking their first cappuccino of the day want to endure.
Details are key, from a potted olive tree, ceiling fans, space heaters, designated dog bowls, to the baskets stacked with cozy blankets for those who get chilly (or need a nap after a big breakfast). 
The inside of the restaurant is just as beautiful but is dog free (except for the occasional dog being carried through on the way to or from the patio).
Oh and I’d been fantasizing about Seaside Café Hanon’s cheese French pancakes (they blend cream cheese into the batter then dip them and toast them on both sides like French toast) since last time I ate there and tried them but there were no substitutions for the regular Mihama pancakes (touted as being made with whole milk from Hokkaido) that come with the lemon curd pancake order. Of course as I’m an all or nothing kind of girl, I got it all. Yep I got an order of cheese French pancakes as a side on my pancake order. 
I love that the waitress didn’t bat an eye at my carbo-loading shenanigans. I also ordered iced café mocha because that’s just how I roll on Sunday mornings. The beautiful thing about getting there before the crowd is that if you are one of the first few in line they will take your order and have it ready for you shortly after you sit down. Well, I just realized that I’m shooting myself in the foot here by giving up this information and may have a larger crowd to contend with now… Maybe you should just go ahead and sleep in. You’ll get here when you get here – and I’ll be long gone, with my tummy full and happy on my way home for a nap.
Your morning meal starts with a happy little surprise or as the French call it, an amuse-bouche (mouth amuser) in the form of a small serving of crème brûlée that is sheer perfection (the only imperfection is that it is in a teeny tiny little bowl so leaves you craving more – but it’s free so really just stop your complaining already).
Now onto the cheese French pancakes. These are on my list of reasons to get out of bed in the morning, reasons to come to Seaside Café Hanon, and reasons to live. Yes they are THAT good. Again, I left a half portion because of the pants to waist dilemma but the waitress was kind enough to wrap up the remaining halves for me in a to-go box (so I could have my pancake and eat it too). When I’m on my deathbed if you bring me some of these cheese French pancakes I’ll jump up and dance a jig, thank you profusely, then place an order for more to be delivered the next day. Plus I’ll add you to my will. Really. So why pray tell are they that good? I don’t know but I do know that I love cream cheese, I love pancakes, and I love French toast. Now mix all three together and you’ve got the winning trifecta. 
On a previous visit I had these cheese French pancakes topped with a mixed berry sauce (called “Berry berry cute pancake”), throwing the whole experience into overdrive and making my taste buds sing with glee. Ok weird imagery, I’ll try to dial it back a notch. 
Other options for pancakes include chocolate chip, the chocolate banana carnival pancake (it sounds quite festive), apple cinnamon pancake, salted caramel pancake, and purple yam millefeuille. If you needmore than “just” pancakes for breakfast they have the egg & meat pancake (served on the side and not IN the pancake), “chillibeans pancake” (chili cheese beans with extra large sausage with homemade pickles). 
My iced chocolate mocha tasted like decadent chocolate milk for adults and made me so very happy to be an adult (or at least to have people fooled into thinking I’m one). On other occasions I’ve tried their hot cafe mocha and caramel macchiato and both were the perfect blend of warm, rich, and sweet (like I like my men) and a beautiful way to start breakfast. 
They have a plethora of coffee drinks so if you want it, they’ll likely have it. Their other drinks include juices, soft drinks, Italian sodas, granite (sherbet-like icy drink with fresh juice), or if you have that “it’s 5:00 somewhere” mentality, then they have Orion and Corona beer or Awamori cocktails.
Another thing I appreciated was that ordering scrambled eggs for my dog didn’t even produce a raised eyebrow, in fact the waitress came back a moment later with two dog bowls and asked which one my dog would prefer the eggs in (the other was for water). 
I tell you I’m madly in love with this restaurant for these reasons alone. Oh but there is so much more to this restaurant than non-judgmental servers and dog friendly seating.
Seaside Café Hanon is up Tuesday to Friday 11am – 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am-7pm, Japanese holiday 9am – 7pm and closed ever Monday or the day after Japanese National holiday. Last order for food is at 6pm and last drink order is at 6:30 pm.
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By the time I decide where I want to eat breakfast I’m usually too hungry to wait in line and then wait for food (as delicious as it is, patience is not generally one of my strengths – especially when my tummy is growling). I was wandering along the Tsunabi Sea Wall with Pickles (not the food, my dog) and searching for a dog friendly breakfast place when I suddenly remembered Coffee Casa.
My stomach wasn’t growling too loud so, despite the fact that it was 0830 on a Saturday morning (the equivalent to morning rush hour at Coffee Casa), I knew I could handle whatever kind of wait time they threw at me – so today was re-discovery day! 
The food is delicious and portions are Japanese size and to me that’s just right (if you are expecting Denny’s sized portions you will be seriously disappointed – but think of all the weight you’ll lose if you start eating normal sized portions again) and the menu is varied enough to appeal to pretty much everyone in your group. Their coffee is delicious and includes the usual suspects as well as banana mocha, almond mocha, coconut latte, and something’s called “SPAZ” which is 4 shots of espresso with chocolate and hazel and is guaranteed to make you spaz out – if not from the delightful taste then definitely from the amount of caffeine… Being more of a traditionalist and a little too sensitive to caffeine to risk the SPAZ, I instead went with my usual cafe mocha. 
I usually get it hot but the sun was blazing and I was sitting on the porch with no shade so instead went for iced. It came out looking like a milkshake and tasted like chocolate + coffee + heaven. The fancy coffee drinks range from 440 yen to 650 yen for the large sizes (yes, that 650 is for the SPAZ) and you can do add ons like shots of espresso for only 50 yen (because obviously having only 4 shots of espresso is for sissies) 
or another shot of syrup (vanilla, caramel, almond, banana, coconut, or chocolate) for 50 yen, a shot of soy for 50 yen (I haven’t quite figured out why I would want a shot of soy but hey I’m sure there’s someone out there jonesing for just one more shot of soy), or if you are living large (and want to get larger) a scoop of ice cream for 100 yen. I just noticed that they have a coffee dessert called Afogato for 300 yen (1 shot of espresso poured over vanilla ice cream). Yum. My dance card was full this time so it’s on my to do next time list. There were drip coffees and you can choose from Mocha French, Brazil, or the monthly special. 
The pancake plates are 750 yen (plain with butter, blueberry, or banana), French toast plates come with banana, blueberry, and whip cream. 
My all time favorite is their bagel plate (or Bagle if you are reading directly from the menu – look stop bitching about the spelling and just be grateful they have an English menu). The bagel plate comes with cream cheese or butter or their very own sun-dried tomato spread (HEAVENLY) and being the little piglet that I am I go over the top and order the sun-dried tomato AND the cream cheese (and when I’m feeling REALLY wild I get all three – yes, I am the occasional high roller). Bagel plate will NOT be pictured here because although it is the most beautiful thing my taste buds have had the good luck to sample here it is the least beautiful thing on the menu. No amount of photo shopping could fix that. Trust me I tried. They have a breakfast burrito which I have had on past occasions and give a two thumbs up. The burrito is 700 yen and has 2 eggs, spicy sausage, cheese, hash browns, and homemade salsa all rolled up in an 11 inch tortilla. 
If you want to be the cool person at your office potluck with the most amazing homemade bread/cake then if you order 5 days in advance you can choose from lemon coconut bread, banana bread, orange & berry bread (each is 1800 yen), or blueberry coffee cake (3080 yen – because YES it’s worth it!). No one is going to know if you try to pass it off as your own… Ethical schmethical. Unless of course they are a Coffee Casa fan, then I’m afraid your cover is blown Betty Crocker.
This is the dog friendly area of the cafe and you can almost always find at least 1 or 2 dogs lounging about with their humans. The cafe has a couple plastic bowls at the ready for just such occasions and since Pickles tends to BYOB (bring your own bowl) for water, I used the extra bowl to serve her scrambled eggs to her (she isn’t called Princess Pickles for nothing…).
There is a short row of movie theater seats at the entrance so that you can sit and wait for your table and watch people ordering at the counter and pretend you are watching the slowest action movie ever. There are about 6 tables inside so, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, the place fills up fast during prime breakfast hours on weekends. 
Kaiholo Cafe’s motto is “Good Morning Foods & Pet Friendly!!” It is one of my favorite Onna breakfast spots. They serve excellent pancakes in flavors from Macadamia to coconut to chocolate chip etc. AND you can add extra toppings (like the ice cream I added to my coconut pancakes) for only 100 yen. With the coconut whipped cream and ice cream it tasted scrumptious – a bit like creamy marshmallow topping (though I have a good imagination so you may wonder what the heck I’m talking about when you try it). 
Their cafe mocha is excellent (hard for me to find places that serve a good mocha on island). The theme is Hawaiian and the place has two small rooms one with 2 tables and the other with 3 or 4 tables.
Dogs are allowed and when I tried to bring my Rottweiler years ago they said she needed “curtesy pants” which after some back and forth I learned meant doggy diaper. I didn’t have any at the time so didn’t get to come in. This time I came prepared with curtesy pants but put them in my purse so that I didn’t needlessly put the humiliation pants (how my dog Pickles refers to the diapers). She’s MUCH smaller than my Rottweiler and they didn’t bat an eye and didn’t ask her to put on “pants’. They also brought her a little bowl of water that looked like a teddy bear face. She’s kind of an adorable weirdo and doesn’t like to drink water out of unfamiliar bowls (she’s even iffy about drinking out of her own. travel bowl) so she didn’t touch it until we were about to leave and finally realized she was parched so deigned to drink out of a “strange” bowl.
Items on the menu include Açaí Bowl for 800 yen, Pitaya Bowl for 700 yen, smoothies from 500-600 yen, waffles (original, strawberry & whipped cream, Seasonal fruit, Haupia – otherwise known as coconut, banana & chocolate, and peanut butter) range from 500-900 yen. They also serve Omelettes that come with 2 original pancakes or ½ original waffle for 700-900 yen. You can also get extra toppings with these for 100 yen and you can get the 200 yen add on for a drink to be included.. They have sandwiches with French fries (BLT, Ham & Egg, Fish, Crispy Chicken) all for 700-800 yen. They have a category called “Muffin”and I’m guessing they mean English muffins since they offer both eggs Benedict and bacon eggs chili muffin (800-900 yen). The side menu is 500 yen for anything listed and includes fried potatoes (French fries), garlic potato, chili & cheese potato, fish & chips, chicken nuggets, crispy chicken, Macaroni & cheese. Extra toppings are 100 yen and it seems as though you can add them to anything you want – your pancakes, waffles, omlettes, sandwiches, etc. (ice cream, whipped cream, Hawaiian honey, 100% pure maple syrup, chocolate, caramel, bacon, sausage, spam, eggs, chili). Yummy – I think I’ll have maple syrup on my eggs Benedict… LOL. Add a drink to any of the meals for just 200 yen.
There’s a list of the usual coffees you’d expect to find on a breakfast menu as well as honey latte and cold pearl latte (350-400 yen each). Teas include regular, honey milk tea, or cold berry apple tea (350-400 yen). There are some fruity sodas (berry, pineapple, mango, or lilikoi) for 350 yen, several kinds of juices (300-350 yen) and beer to include either Hawaiian beer or Orion beer (800 & 400 yen respectively)
They have a little fluffy dachshund (Hana) who wanders around the restaurant pleading for food (despite all the signs CLEARLY saying please don’t feed her since she was dying from food allergies – obviously Hana cannot read so is oblivious to the fact that she is not supposed to be eating people food. 
People seem to be quite good at resisting her adorable pleading (the idea that you might kill her if you feed her probably helps). Their other dog is a sweet and shy old Shelty named Aki and only comes out when beckoned by his owner.
HOURS: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm and they seem to be open daily
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You can sit facing the street on one of the benches outside or at the small table for 4 also outside on the lanai (see how I snuck that Hawaiian word for balcony in there…) if your timing is right and you have a party of at least 3-4. This is perfect for those who enjoy bringing their dogs to breakfast. 
If you want to spoil your pup you can even order a side of scrambled eggs (300 yen) for Fido/Spot/Pickles (just tell them it’s for your dog so they put it in a plastic container). 
The inside of the restaurant is small but welcoming and there are maybe 6 wooden tables so the place fills up fast. It is a light filled space and the entire front wall of the restaurant is actually not a wall but is instead floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the front porch. 
The café boasts hardwood floors, a giant Hawaiian beach mural painted on one wall with the opposite wall a soothing butter yellow, hung with pictures with the same theme. 
Small crystal chandeliers hang throughout the dining room and on the wall behind the cash register is a chalk board listing smoothies (Ginger Ninja, Beet it, Berry Berry, Power Green, and Tropical Sunrise all priced from 500 – 650 yen), drinks to include Orion beer for 700 yen if that’s what you consider part of a healthy breakfast… or more morning friendly drinks like orange, mango, guava, or apple juice (all 400 yen), and the specials. The other drinks listed include Hawaiian blend coffee, coconut coffee (this one gets 2 thumbs up from me), café latte, cappuccino, and a variety of Hawaiian teas. There is usually a wait if you get there after 9:00 am, so just add your name to the waiting list on a clipboard outside and check out Maybe Bakery next door (it’s definitely a bakery, no maybes about it) if you need something to tide you over while you wait.
Another favorite of mine is their signature French Toast – Hale Noa French Toast (1100 yen) with mixed berry sauce and crème brulee sauce drizzled generously over the top. 
If you prefer your French Toast without the bells and whistles (less noisy that way), plain old French Toast is only 500 yen.
It is extra for sides like toast, rice (yes I told you they love this stuff), country potatoes (OMG if you like breakfast potatoes these are sheer deliciousness and only 300 yen), bacon, sausage, or salad. 
One star of the menu is their eggs benedict (1200 yen). They have 4 varieties to choose from: bacon, Kalua pork, smoke salmon, or avocado and best of all you can mix and match (try 2 different ones or stay in your comfort zone and just have one kind). I highly recommend the Kalua pork – it was surprisingly good! I was expecting that I was going to take a bite and then leave the rest while inhaling the bacon eggs benedict but I was so very wrong and at the end of breakfast my plate was remarkably clean (yes I licked my plate when no one was looking).
I found this place on Okinawa Foodies page on Facebook and with all the rave reviews knew I had to try the place. My only fear in writing this review is that I’ll never get back in here due to the flocks of people hungry for a great burger that are bound to descend upon this place once they discover it. That’s the selfish part of me talking. The share the wealth of knowledge of deliciousness part of me caved in and has decided to share despite my fears.
It had modern hanging bare lights, some huge lights that look like those old school hair dryers that ladies would sit under with curlers in their hair. 
There’s a rustic wooden bar with 7 stools and yes, they serve alcohol for those in need of a libation. There’s free Wi-Fi as well.
And the homemade grilled brioche bun was delicious, that alone would’ve been enough to make me swoon. The only downside was that it was so soft that the bottom got a tad soggy. The burgers are served with shoestring fries that were a homemade version of my shameful favorite secret addiction (McDonalds fries). I could only eat about half the burger and ⅓ of rhe fries because it was wonderfully rich and filled me up. 
Also, if I’m going to be honest here, I was saving room for one of their desserts. Hey it wouldn’t really be right for me to go to the trouble of reviewing this place and not try the dessert… I’m looking out for YOU here – it’s a purely selfless act.
I was torn between the brownie and ice cream and the coconuts lemon tart (¥390). On the recommendation of the owner I went with the coconut lemon tart (though he did look torn, noting sadly that the tart didn’t come with ice cream). 
It was phenomenal just sweet enough with a beautiful lightly sweetened crust, sweet and tart lemon filling, and a thick coconut cake/crust base. Definitely the right recommendation, though I will have to return to test the brownie and ice cream as well as the umami burger with truffle oil, mushrooms, Parmesan, and Gorgonzola cheese.
The road outside the restaurant is under construction but to make up for the inconvenience they do free valet parking. The restaurant is in a big old brick warehouse where several other restaurants and shops also do business. We were taken to the 2nd floor and given a table in the middle of the small space. 
The menu has a section of small plates to share as well as a small section of very large courses to share. We decided on 7 dishes for our table of 4 people and this turned out to be perfect, and left a bit of room for dessert. During the meal our waiters were attentive and their movements seemed like a specially choreographed dance, clearing plates and silverware and bringing new along with the next delightful bit of our meal. The first dish was Pimento cheese and was my absolute favorite. 
It came with a small jar of pimento cheese topped with roasted anaheim pepper, bacon jam, and served with insanely delicious grilled bread. The combination of the perfectly toasted bread along with the cheese was heavenly. The waiters were kind enough to bring more bread when they saw that we’d inhaled the bread yet still had more cheese with nowhere to spread it (perhaps they sensed that I was getting ready to slather it onto my plate and lick it off). The next course was coal roasted beets, basically a beet salad, that was surprisingly tasty, especially considering I’m not normally a fan of beets at all. It had goat cheese, arugula, carmelized dried dates, and radicchio.
The dressing had just the right amount of tanginess and the veggies were shredded and curled (not sure how just know it gave it a nice texture and the taste was just right). The wood fired baby yams were not as fabulous as I’d hoped since I’m a huge fan of all things yam. This dish came with cashew, sesame, mandarin, sherry, and puréed yams. 
The meatballs were lackluster and tasted like, well, like meatballs. No pizazz, no umph, just meatballs. Pricey ones with uninspiring flavor. 
There was a clam course which I was not a fan of but then I don’t like clams so I’m not a good judge. 
My mother, whose birthday we were celebrating absolutely adored them but she is also very easily pleased (a WONDERFUL characteristic by the way when someone is just as thrilled to go to Red Lobster as they are to go to a Michelin star restaurant). There was a course that had kale and gnocchi and other ingredients that I no longer remember but what I do remember is that we all gave it a thumbs up.
The waiter was kind enough to also bring deconstructed s’mores for her complete with birthday candles! These were pretty good but not phenomenal (how phenomenal can one make marshmallows, drizzled chocolate, and graham cracker crumbs taste though?). What I loved the most was the service. It was spot on and spectacular. This restaurant is a well-oiled machine with some very tasty dishes and others that may leave you unimpressed. 
The restaurant has a high open ceiling and is not at all cozy or romantic (it was a birthday dinner for my mom so definitely no problem with that, just wanted to let you know it’s not a romantic night out kind of place).
You can mix and match the flavors which is perfect for those of us (me) who can’t decide. Plus the menu included a variety of normal breakfast fare like scrambles, flapjacks, and since it’s Colorado, a “wake and bake” burrito. I went with a cafe mocha (good but not mind blowing good like the one I had at Snooze), the tres leches French toast (perfect) and apple crumble French toast (a tad sweet for my liking) with an added order of TENDER BELLY (yes, all caps again) coffee braised bacon (sounded a bit like a hipster spa treatment) and house made “tater tots” (NOT tater tots) with a bacon aioli.
The tots were little pillow like potato puffs but were a tad unpleasant due to the grease factor. The bacon was fine but didn’t live up to the hype I’d created for it in my mind while reading the description. I’ll take full credit for the disappointment… the bacon tasted like bacon. Quality bacon but not mind blowing call your mother and tell her about it bacon. I haven’t yet found the mind blowing call my mother kind of bacon as of yet, but it is a personal quest of mine. I’d go back to try the short ribs Benedict and to have another dose of the tres leches French toast but I’d definitely avoid the grease tots.
Travel Eat Rinse Repeat 